220 TREATY WITH THE SULTAN. [1844. 



the affair of Mr. Murray, the preceding year; at all 

 events, that if they survived, they would require a 

 heavy ransom for them. But by keeping a close 

 blockade upon Sambiliong, this had been prevented. He 

 complained bitterly of the ungenerous conduct of Captain 

 Milne, as he termed him, for demanding a desk with 

 pens, knives, and other articles which he had presented 

 him on then 1 first acquaintance, and by papers which 

 were read, as well as receipts left behind, they had de- 

 livered up to them everything which could be found. 

 The final observation of the Sultan was very complete : 

 " Everything I could find to restore, I was glad to send 

 away, because it reminded us of bad men ; but the iron 

 of the vessel, which the natives cut out of the wood, 

 where the fire had bared it, and had been worked into 

 spears and kris blades, I was unable to recover. But I 

 am so happy that you have come to give us better 

 thoughts of your countrymen ; we must be friends ; I 

 must have an English flag." As this was a convenient 

 moment, I urged the propriety of officially making 

 known to our Government his friendly disposition and 

 arxiety for alliance with Great Britain, but before I 

 could receive anything of this nature, I must clearly 

 understand on what footing he stood with other nations. 

 He produced all his papers, and solemnly denied any 

 agreement with other nations which bound him to more 

 than friendly reception, and permission to trade. Upon 

 this, I drew up a Treaty, which was duly completed, and 

 the Sultan standing up before his people with our right 

 thumbs locked, declared us " Brothers " ; a royal salute 

 was then fired from our boats to complete this ceremony, 



